No frills. Off the beaten path. Interesting. That is the blend of jazz
with world folk music presented by the Ochion Jewell Quartet on Volk
(2015).

Saxophonist and composer Jewell, whose first name is pronounced “Ocean,”
has a compelling story to tell in the months that preceded this
recording. He overcame a brutal beating at the hands of New York City
police in a wrongful arrest. Using the resources acquired in an
out-of-court settlement, he produced Volk. Accompanying him on
this journey are Amino Belyamani, piano; Sam Minaie, bass; and Qasim
Naqvi, drums. Guitarist Lionel Loueke sits in on two tracks.

The songs are grouped into four suites. “Kun Mun Kultani Tulisi” opens
the second grouping. Jewell’s tenor begins with a gray, mournful melody.
As the other musicians come in, the tone becomes stronger, more dramatic
though a bit brighter. About halfway through, the others stop, and
Jewell expresses softly, freely. Keyed by the drum rolls, the next stage
is like an adventure, a trek through unknown territory wherein the music
reacts to whatever the travelers encounter.

Loueke opens “Gnawa Blues” in true, old-school blues fashion, throwing
in a few twang licks. After an extended introduction, the pace picks up.
The guitar maintains the lead with some subtle underscore by the other
instruments. The piano steps out for a bit. The bass and drum lines are
mostly constant. And the sax adds a haunting quality. The piece evolves
into a groove where everyone is seemingly on a different track, yet all
tracks complement one another. It’s like a tribal jam where village
musicians come together. One person starts and others join in, each
feeding off what the others are doing. After a few minutes of this, the
song shifts into high gear, with Naqvi becoming a bit more emphatic.

Jewell grew up in the Appalachian area of southeastern Kentucky.
Exploitation in coal mines and more recently drugs, poor education and
economics drove him to leave his home. Further exasperating his
interests, his county was a dry county – no liquor. Where there’s no
liquor, there tends to be no venues for live music. Through a friend,
Jewell found himself studying classical saxophone at the University of
Louisville and continuing later at CalArts. He was mentored by Charlie
Haden, Wadada Leo Smith and Joe LaBarbera. Jewell is an original member
of the Pleasure Circus Band and a member of the BedStuy Ewe Ensemble. He
has also performed on an episode of NBC Television’s 30 Rock.

One morning in 2011, Jewell was on his way home from the
Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. He was smoking a
hand-rolled cigarette at the train station and minding his own business
when he was approached by a group of men in street clothes. They
attacked him, called him different names and asked questions he couldn’t
answer. Thinking he was being mugged, Jewell offered them money from his
pocket, but they refused. One choked him into unconsciousness. When he
awoke in handcuffs, Jewell realized the men were plainclothes police
officers who, upon realizing their mistake, produced an empty vial that
had contained crack cocaine. Jewell spent 27 hours in jail before a
judge dismissed the charges. He was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD and
anxiety disorder. He sued the NYPD and settled out of court. His story
later became a chapter in Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi’s
book about injustice in America, The Divide.
Of the experience, Jewell says he wanted justice. “My goal was to get
these guys’ badges taken away. But the lawyer just laughed and said,
‘That never happens. If you want justice in New York, go for money.’”

The emotional and psychological scars of that experience are merged with
Jewell’s classical training and love of world folk music. They all come
together in Volk, his second release as a leader.